“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35, ESV).

What’s this new command? That we love one another as Jesus loved us. That’s how people know we are disciples of Jesus. They will know if we have Jesus Christ’s love for one another.

What does that look like? What does it look like to love one another as Christ loved us? What does Christ’s love look like? It was a love that laid down its life for others, completely, literally. It was a love that prayed for others. It was a love that reached out and touched others. It was a love that wasn’t too busy to change directions when someone needed help. It was a love that acted in compassion when it saw the pain and troubles of others. It was a love that rebuked and spoke the truth. It was a love that invited you to join in and that reclined with you at the table.

That was a long list, but think about these things. How do you lay down your life for others? How do you pray for others? How often do you pray for others? How often do you reach out? How flexible are you to drop everything when a call comes for help? How often are you moved with compassion into action? How often are you willing to speak the truth in love to someone’s face? How often do you open your doors and your arms to take others in?

Love. That’s our order. Let’s walk in it.